Mozilla Working on Metro Version of Firefox for Windows 8

When Windows 8 launches later this year, there will be two desktop versions to use: the Classic one that we all know and the touch-friendly Metro UI. The Classic version will be very similar in look to Windows 7, but the Metro UI is more in line with Windows Phone 7 and will be great for tablets and touch PCs. Companies will most likely be tweaking programs in order to look good on the Metro UI, and Firefox users will not be left in the dark. Mozilla has announced it will launch a Metro version of Firefox for Windows 8, which will be a Gecko-based browser capable of touch interactions. Metro Firefox will support full-screen and partial-screen modes, plus even the possibility of a live tile to let users see updates on the Start screen. Mozilla is hoping Microsoft will grant Firefox similar access to IE for the Metro version, but that is still up in the air currently.

Users getting Windows 8 will still have a tradtional Firefox for the Classic version, and that will require little in the way of updating on Mozilla's part to make it work. The Metro UI is a different beast altogether, but Mozilla should be able to pull off the new Firefox without much trouble.